Shop vacs are loud. Those that are generally bought and used in homes or garages produce between 70 decibels and 80 decibels of noise. Commercial shop vacs will regularly make over 85 decibels of noise. 70 decibels is the sound of your shower, 80 decibels is the sound of an alarm clock, and 85 decibels sounds like a passing diesel truck.  Shop vacs are loud because they consist of a large hollow canister and a very powerful motor with a large fan ..read more

Air compressors are loud–typically putting out 70 – 80 decibels of noise. This is not quite up to hearing loss levels (85 decibels and higher), but it might get uncomfortable if you are working close to one for extended periods of time. An air compressor, along with even a few of the multitude of available attachments, is one of the most versatile tools you can have. A quiet compressor is just much more pleasurable to use ..read more

Sump pumps generally operate fairly quietly, so if you start hearing yours, it is time to figure out what is happening. The pump is there to keep your basement dry. Keeping it running to do that job can save costs and aggravation.  Here are some of the more common sump pump noises, what may be causing them, and what you can do to fix both the noise and the pump.     5 Common Sump Pump Noises One of the reasons sump pumps are quiet is that they are usually quite a ways from your living space ..read more

Smoke alarms are capable of making many different noises. Chirps, squeaks, buzzing and high pitched squeals. They are actually different signals alerting the house occupants that some action needs to be taken. Smoke alarms are loud by design. Even when there is no fire. Here is what the high pitched noise means, along with the required action that will make it stop.        High Pitched Smoke Alarm Squealing Most home smoke alarms put out at least 85 decibels–about the same sound as a passing diesel truck or a snow blower ..read more

Your plumbing system should be just like the old English proverb, “Children should be seen, and not heard.” A good plumbing system should provide water and drainage on demand without much more noise than splashing water. Unfortunately, some systems are quite noisy. Here are some of the sounds you may hear, some of the causes, and some remedies.          6 Common Water Pipe Noises Water pipes generally will make 5 different types of noises ..read more

One of the most satisfying upgrades you can make to your home entertainment system is better sound. Whether it is music, movies, even TV or streaming, improving the quality of your speakers is one of your best choices. If you are in the market for new speakers, make sure you consider the benefits of 5.2 or 7.2 surround sound systems.       Why Do Speakers Use the Decimal System ..read more

Acoustic panels are not used for soundproofing. They are used to improve sound quality inside a room, theater, church, office, and many other buildings. Here are more details about acoustic panels, including types and styles and what you should expect from them.    How do Acoustic Panels Work to Improve Sound? Sound waves travel very fast–about 1125 feet per second. Meaning that your room is filled with sound almost instantly. And a sound wave will bounce back and forth between 2 flat walls about 60 times per second ..read more

If your kitchen cabinet and vanity doors bang loud enough to wake the neighbor’s dog, it is time to consider replacing the existing hinges with soft close hinges. Soft close hinges are engineered to stop the door about one or two inches from slamming, and then gently easing it shut.  Here are 8 very quiet soft closing hinges. Hopefully one of them will meet your needs and work on the type of doors you have ..read more

Squeaky door hinges are a staple of old horror films and The Munsters. They need not be part of your life. With the many lubricant choices available, you should be able to find the one that works best for your situation. Here is a list of some of the best and most effective lubricants from my experience installing and maintaining countless doors.   8 Best Lubricants for Door Hinges Door hinges are everywhere–interior and exterior doors, kitchen cabinet doors, auto doors, garage doors, and more ..read more

Nobody ever wants to hear their smoke alarm going off. It is never a good thing. But occasionally it needs to talk to you because it needs service. Dirt, bugs, battery, or just old age can all cause the smoke detector to begin chirping at you.  Here are some of the more common reasons your smoke alarm is making noise, along with what you can do to make it stop and bring back peace and quiet ..read more